Portable lighter



March' 22, 1927.

W. A. GUHMAN PORTABLE LIGHTER Filed Dec. 27, 1922 INVENTOR BY H16 ATTORNEY E% Patented" Mar. 22, 1927.

' i-"r' e sr WALTER 'A." Gunman, on n nwyonm, L YL roR iAnnE Application i165 Deceninr27j192'2. seriallifd. 609521 8 I My invention rel'ates' tojelectric li hters I of the portable type, and while particularly des'igned'. for u e in connection with automobilesor thelilre, may be employed wherintermediate their" ends',"for holding the principal elements of my improvement.-

These consist of a sparker which is placed in one of the pockets, and a vial or receptacle for holding a small amount of inflammable fluid, or some cottonsaturated with the same, or both, which tube also serves as. a holder for a torch or igniter having means at its inner end for holding a small amount of asbestos fibre or similar material. The sparker is equipped at its ends with the usual .terminal means for connection to a sourceofelectricity, and is cut away to form a gap, on each side of which electrodes protrude slightly. When my lighter is ready for operation, the igniter is made to bridge the gap and complete the circuit, which, on i being broken, causes a spark to set alight the.

fibre at the end of the igniter.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my complete invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sections onthe lines 2-2 and 3- 3, respectively, of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. tshows my device connected for operation with the igniter in position preparatory to ignition, and Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4. v

In the drawings, in which similar numerals of reference refer to corresponding parts in the different figures, '1 is a casing, made of leather or similar material, provided with two pockets 2 and 3, in which are removably placed a sparker 4 and a vial or receptacle 5, thelatter being for the purpose of holding a small amount of gasoline, n'aptha, alcohol or similar fluid, or some cotton saturated with the same, as well as for -the reception of i the torch or igniter 6 for the purpose hereinafter described? I The sparlie'r 4" is-about two an d 'onehalf inches in length, and is-prelferabiy i i iade of porcelain encircling a i'iietal cond'ur on 7 The spa'rker is cut away at'8, corresponding: with the" cut-away portion of the casing, and on each side of the gap the endsof'the imetait conductor, forming the" electrodes Sand: '10 project slightly. Attached toT't-lte bottom electrode 10 isa forked metanescirwhich enablesthe igniter to be more easily and certainly 'p'laced -i n osition toybriidge'ithb gap. The s parke'r is fittedwith the usual tern'ii-nal screws I2 and le'adingein "guides 13 for attachment to wires leadin to aibat tery or the like, as diagrammatically illus= trated iar FigE- L- I I The tube or vial 5 is of the same length as the sparker and is also preferably made of porcelain. In'the bottom of this tube is placed a small quantity of cotton or kindred material 14, which is saturatedwi-th gasolene or similar fluid, a small amount of the said liquid beingalso contained therein if desired.

The igniter 6 is adapted for insertion into said vial- This igniter is constructed of metal with the exception of the handle, which I prefer tomake of porcelain, although any non-conducting material may be used. The-inner end" of the igniter is provided with prong-s or a claw 15, intended to hold and retain a small quantity of asbestos fibre. The handle of the igniter 6 is designed also to act as a stopper for the mouth of the .vial or tube 5, the circular extension 16 closely fitting the said mouth. The openings 17, 17in the casing are for the purpose of hanging my device in. the place whereit is to be used.

From the foregoing description the opera tion of my device will be obvious. In an automobile, for instance, thelighter is made ready for operation, after being suitably placed, by connecting the terminal of the upper electrode with a-wire leading to the magneto generator, spark plug, battery or any.

source of electric energy, the circuit being completed by connecting the lower terminal with a wire-leading to any metal part of the car that will act as a ground. The igniter, V

with its asbestos-bearing tip saturated with theinfiammable fluid, may then be removed from the tube or vial, and its stem placed in moments to engage and disengage the Wire connections.

\Vhile I have described herein the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not limit'myself thereto, as various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, and Within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A portable electric lighter comprising a casing adapted to be attached to the Wall of an automobile, tWo pockets in said casing, both of the pockets cut away intermediate their length, a sparker in one of said pockets With a spark gap Which registers with the cutaway portion of the pocket and having terminals adapted to form part of an electric circuit extending through it from each end of the gap, the other of said pocketscontaining a receptacle for thecreception of inflammable fluid and a removable igniter, prongs on the inner end of said igniter for holding inflammable material, an enlarged collar on the opposite end of said igniter to act as a closure for the pocket containing it, and a forked metal rest at one end of the spark gap, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a portable electric lighter, the combination of a casing adapted to be attached to an automobile, two pockets in said casing, both of the pockets being cut away intermediate their length, a sparker in one of said pockets provided With a gap Which registers with said cutaway portion and having terminals leading from each end thereof the electrodes of Which are located at each end or" the pocket, the other of said pockets containing a receptacle for inflammable liquid and a removable igniter which has means at its tip for holding inflammable material, the Whole operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WALTER A. GUHMAN. 

